Contributor - UK

David Donald

Israeli defense electronics and weapons specialist Rafael (Stand N53) celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. It was created to perform research and development in support of Israel’s defense, and that mission remains central to the company’s activities today.

 


For seven decades Rafael has developed weapons and systems that build on layers of technology, adding new layers to create new capabilities. Investing heavily in R&amp;D and human capital, Rafael aims to create products and technology that are truly innovative, rather than matching existing technologies from other companies.

 


Now the company is leveraging developments in what has been called the Fourth Industrial Revolution, namely artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data, to improve defense-related products and systems. In order to harness this latest in technology for defense purposes, Rafael has established a number of facilities outside of the company that work with academia and collaborate with commercial entities.

 


These efforts have already borne fruit in a number of products. An example is the MANET (mobile ad hoc network) communications system, which works across air, sea, and land domains. Utilizing software-defined radios the MANET is a self-forming network that requires no infrastructure, the network being created through the connectivity between the radios themselves. The network is self-healing, reconfiguring itself if a node is lost, and offers beyond line of sight capability by using nodes within the system to multi-hop transmissions.

 


Another example is the connection between the company’s latest Litening targeting pod and advanced precision weapons such as Spice, which together use computer vision and AI to detect and autonomously track challenging targets such as moving vehicles.

 


Separately, a new member has been added to the Litening family in the form of the RecceLite Minipod, a lighter, smaller version of the RecceLite 5 reconnaissance system, itself derived from the Litening. The Minipod has the same optics and processing, but is housed in a shorter pod. It is intended for slow platforms such as UAVs, and does not need many of the systems required for operation in a high-g, high-speed application such as a fighter. Accordingly, the bulky environmental control system can be removed completely, while the datalink can potentially use the carrier platform’s own system.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Rafael focus on "4th industrial revolution" reaps dividends

Rafael is 70 this year, and is continuing its tradition of harnessing the very latest of technology to create innovative weapons and systems.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Billund, Denmark-based company will also offer dealer coordination for European customers

Scandinavian Avionics To Support Legacy Nighthawk Systems

Curt Epstein

AIN readers rate avionics, cabin management, and airborne connectivity manufacturers

AIN Product Support Survey 2026: Avionics

Kerry Lynch

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

New release adds missed approach climb gradient table and climb gradient values on departure procedures

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

More In Avionics

Scandinavian Avionics To Support Legacy Nighthawk Systems

Billund, Denmark-based company will also offer dealer coordination for European customers

AIN Product Support Survey 2026: Avionics

AIN readers rate avionics, cabin management, and airborne connectivity manufacturers

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

New release adds missed approach climb gradient table and climb gradient values on departure procedures

Autoland-equipped Phenom 300EV Gets Trio of Approvals

Light jet now approved by Brazilian, U.S., and European regulators

Klatt Works Adds Gulfstream as Approved SAVED Supplier

Expands availability of company's oxygen-mask head-up display system

Honeywell Expands Guided Visual Approach List to 120

Improves safety when flying into challenging airports

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN